Infosys founder Narayana Murthy sparks controversy with 70-hour work week proposal

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy's recent remarks advocating a 70-hour work week for Indian youth have ignited a fierce debate across social media platforms. Speaking on a podcast 'The Record,' Murthy emphasized the need for young people to work 12 hours a day to enhance India's competitiveness on the global stage, drawing parallels with the post-World War II efforts of countries like Japan and Germany.

What an elitist take!! I can’t even fathom how he suggests such gruelling work hours. Does he know the time people spend travelling? How tough life can be? Don’t they deserve time with family? https://t.co/PkN7mJGCJc

— MoneyTalkWithL (@LarissaFernand) October 26, 2023

However, Murthy's endorsement of a rigorous work schedule, dubbed "hustle culture," faced strong opposition online. Many users criticized his perspective as elitist, highlighting the challenges people face in their daily lives, such as commuting and family responsibilities. Some argued that such demanding hours would disproportionately impact women, potentially forcing them out of the workplace due to the added burden of housekeeping and caregiving.

Also Watch: Narayana Murthy highlights low work productivity in India, urges youth to work 12 hours daily

With this statement, Mr. Murthy is essentially pushing women out of the workplace.
Men are never going to share the load of housekeeping, caregiving and childrearing. With a 70 hour work week, women will have no choice but to drop out. https://t.co/U9IapSHDZv

— Natasha Ramarathnam (@nuts2406) October 26, 2023

Social media users expressed their discontent, labelling Murthy's call for extended work hours as a form of exploitation and abuse of young talent. Some advocated for a more balanced approach, emphasizing the importance of respecting individuals' well-being and work-life balance.

Indirectly #Infosys founder Narayana Murthy is saying..

work 12 hours per day

spoil your mental health due to NO proper sleep

after spoiling ur health,spend lakhs of rupees in hospitals for ur treatment

increase the business of Infosys

increase profit,revenue of Infosys 😁😁 pic.twitter.com/YEEVdoEoig

— Sharanu.N🇮🇳 (@sharanu_ja) October 27, 2023

@NarayanaMurthy Your call for 70-hour work weeks is not just misguided, it's cruel. Exploiting young talent with these demands is nothing short of abuse. We won't tolerate it! Quality work comes from respect, not exhaustion. Time to wake up! 😡 #WorkLifeRevolt #RespectTalent https://t.co/zKunqgiSin

— Sumant (@Sumantk9) October 27, 2023

Amidst the criticism, there were voices in support of Murthy's stance. Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal agreed with Murthy, echoing the sentiment that this is a pivotal moment for India to focus on nation-building efforts. Despite the divide in opinions, Murthy's remarks have undeniably sparked a nationwide conversation about work culture, labour rights, and the balance between personal life and professional commitments. The debate continues as people grapple with the complexities of modern work expectations in India.

Totally agree with Mr Murthy’s views. It’s not our moment to work less and entertain ourselves. Rather it’s our moment to go all in and build in 1 generation what other countries have built over many generations! https://t.co/KsXQbjAhSM

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) October 26, 2023